That’s a fascinating detail about Angie Bowie’s career! While it’s true that she auditioned for the role of Wonder Woman and ultimately lost it to Lynda Carter, the exact reason why remains somewhat unclear. Bowie gave an audition for the iconic role of Wonder Woman in the mid-70s.
A closer look at the Feb. 11, 1974, issue of Newsweek reveals an intriguing aspect of Angie Bowie’s audition—her bold refusal to wear a bra. While the exact reasons behind her not being cast are still debated, the reported refusal to wear a bra as a reason has been a subject of much discussion.
Angie Bowie Talked about Her Audition for the Wonder Woman Role
In a fascinating revelation from Angie Bowie’s 1993 autobiography, Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie, the curtain is lifted on her attempt to land the role of Wonder Woman in 1974. Angie Bowie, a model, actress, and mother to director Duncan Jones, took a stand against the conventional norms of Hollywood.
“First I showed them the photographs, which totally flabbergasted the director- things were going well so far- but then, before I went to my dressing room to don the stipulated turtleneck, some woman from the studio came up to me.”
‘I see you’re not wearing a bra,’ she said. ‘You have to wear one for the screen test. It’s mandatory. I couldn’t believe it. I hadn’t worn a bra for years. ‘Well, if that’s what you want, okay,’ I said. ‘But I think you’re going to have a problem finding one small enough. She didn’t like that very much, but she walked off, and I went to the dressing room.”
As the autobiography unfolds, Bowie shares a surprising twist in the Wonder Woman saga. The revelation that the entire audition might have been a strategic move to promote David Bowie’s 1980 Floor Show edition of The Midnight Special adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Why Did Angie Bowie Hate Hollywood?
Angie Bowie, best known for her association with rock legend David Bowie, found herself in the midst of Hollywood’s dark side when she auditioned for the role of Wonder Woman. In an interview, Bowie revealed the uncomfortable and s*xist treatment she endured during the audition process, shedding light on the pervasive issues of objectification and s*xism in Hollywood during the era.
“I tried out but it was already given to Lynda Carter; the agent was one of the producers and Lynda was his girlfriend. They gave me an audition because they wanted to have an excuse for me to go on Johnny Carson and promote The Midnight Special, which David did for Wolfman Jack,” Bowie once told BlogTalkRadio (via Contact Music).
The experience went downhill from there. “The whole thing was a little nerve wracking because I was 22,” Bowie said.
“I believed that I had an opportunity, but when I went to the auditions to the network the wardrobe people told me I was gonna wear a bra and I laughed in their faces and said, ‘No, no, no, you got the wrong person.’ Then one of the writers actually propositioned me. I hated Hollywood; it was just really unpleasant. They were very nasty, a bunch of chauvinistic pigs. Women were purely decorative.”
Also Read: “You’re Not Paying Attention”: Lynda Carter Claims Wonder Woman Is Queer
The audition, ultimately, proved fruitless. The role of Wonder Woman went to Lynda Carter, whose portrayal became synonymous with the character.
